The FIFA Women's World Cup of 2015

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On July 5, 2015, a crowd of 53,341 association football (soccer) fans at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and a record American soccer audience of 25.4 million TV viewers watched the U.S. defeat defending champion Japan 5–2 in the final of a memorably exciting seventh FIFA Women’s World Cup. The win was the third for the U.S. team since the inception of the competition in 1991 but only the first since 1999. The profile-raising standard of play throughout the monthlong tournament in Canada emphasized the continuing progress that had been made in women’s soccer, which in 2015 was the principal worldwide women’s sport, with some 177 countries actively involved and an estimated 30 million global participants.

Women's World Cup 2015At the association football (soccer) FIFA Women's World Cup final in Vancouver on July 5, 2015, American Carli Lloyd (in white) defies two Japanese defenders and goalkeeper Kaihori Ayumi (left) as she shoots one of her three goals en route to the U.S. team's 5–2 victory over Japan.Carmen Jaspersen—EPA/Alamy

U.S. soccer players celebrate World Cup winAfter having won the FIFA Women's World Cup final on July 5, 2015, American association football (soccer) players (left to right) Meghan Klingenberg, Alyssa Naeher, and Lori Chalupny acknowledge the crowd during a celebratory ticker-tape parade in New York City on July 10. It was the first time that a U.S. women's sports team was honoured with such a parade.Aneese—iStock/Thinkstock

U.S. World Cup team ticker tape paradeDuring a ticker-tape parade in New York City on July 10, 2015, American association football (soccer) players Carli Lloyd (centre left) and Megan Rapinoe (holding the World Cup trophy aloft) celebrate their team's 5–2 triumph over Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup final in Vancouver, B.C., on July 5.scarletsails—iStock/Thinkstock

The Early Years of Women’s Soccer.

Women’s participation in the sport has a long history. In the 1790s an annual Shrove Tuesday match in Inveresk, Scot., pitted a squad of married women against a team of unmarried women. Women’s games were infamously banned by England’s Football Association (FA) from its pitches in 1921 because “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.” More likely, the FA was concerned about the high attendances for women’s games. On Dec. 26, 1920, a Boxing Day crowd of 53,000 had packed Goodison Park, the Everton FC ground in Liverpool, to watch a women’s match.

Nettie J. Honeyball, a formidable activist, formed the British Ladies Football Club in 1894 and sought advice on the sport from Bill Julian of Tottenham Hotspur FC. The women players gradually improved their technique as well as their sports kit, which evolved from blouses, knickerbockers, and fisherman’s caps to shirts and shorts. During World War I the Dick, Kerr factory in Preston, Lancashire, which had been converted to producing munitions, sponsored one of many teams made up of women workers. The Dick, Kerr Ladies FC (later the Preston Ladies FC) continued successfully into the 1960s, despite declining interest. In 1921 the English Ladies FA was formed, its teams playing on private and rugby-club grounds. Not until 1971 did the FA in England change its attitude toward women, and the organization finally brought the women’s game under its auspices in 1993.

Soccer gradually became popular in American schools and camps, although there was neither collegiate competition nor a national team until Title IX, a portion of educational-equality legislation passed in 1972, altered the scene dramatically by banning discrimination in higher education on the basis of sex. Participation in Norway and Sweden had already reached impressive levels, and Italy had part-time professional players. UEFA (the European governing body) organized women’s competitions from 1984. Japan introduced its semiprofessional L League in 1989. The English FA premiered a professional Women’s Super League in 2011. The following year, after two similar attempts in the U.S. had failed, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was launched, involving players from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Since 1996 the Olympics had provided excellent exposure for women’s play, though Olympic competition was dominated by the U.S., with four gold and one silver medal in five contests.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After a test tournament (won by Norway) in 1988 in China, with 12 countries representing all six FIFA confederations, China was chosen as the host for the inaugural Women’s World Cup, in 1991 (with matches limited to 80 minutes of play). In front of a crowd of 63,000 in Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, the U.S. edged Norway 2–1 in a tense, exciting final, with outstanding Golden Shoe recipient Michelle Akers scoring both U.S. goals (out of her 10 for the tournament). Also showing exceptional promise was midfielder Mia Hamm (then aged 19). Lena Videkull of Sweden achieved the fastest goal in the tournament’s history, scoring after 30 seconds in a game against Japan.

In 1995 Sweden provided the venues for the second tournament, and matches were expanded to a full 90 minutes. Further progress came when a woman referee, Ingrid Jonsson of Sweden, supervised the final, in which Norway defeated Germany 2–0 at Rasunda Stadium in Solna. There was noticeable improvement in the standard of play, and several teenage players shone, notably Birgit Prinz of Germany and Homare Sawa from Japan.

The effort and expenditure that the U.S. put into staging the 1999 tournament was rewarded with a hard-earned final victory over China in a 5–4 penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw. U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry made the crucial penalty save in the final, which was held in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., and was watched by 90,185 fans, a record crowd for any women’s sporting event. In that tournament the number of teams increased from 12 to 16, and widespread TV coverage afforded excellent publicity. The U.S. realized 18 of the overall 123 goals scored. En route to the final match, China, led by Golden Shoe and Golden Ball recipient Sun Wen, had ended Norway’s 10 straight World Cup wins with a 5–0 victory in a semifinal.

The U.S. rescued the finals at short notice in 2003 when an epidemic of the SARS virus deprived China of its role as host. Doubleheaders were squeezed in to complete the program. European teams provided the finalists, and Germany beat Sweden 2–1 with a golden goal in the 98th minute of overtime at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., before an audience of 26,137. Top players included Russia’s Yelena Danilova, who at the age of 16 years 96 days was the youngest goal scorer; 17-year-old Brazilian Marta, who showed maturity as a striker; and Germany’s Prinz, who won both the Golden Shoe and the Golden Ball.

In 2007 China hosted the fifth edition, which began with a spectacular opening ceremony and an 11–0 victory by Germany over Argentina. The Germans continued to dominate, with 21 goals overall and without conceding a goal, and beat Brazil 2–0 in the final, at Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, thus becoming the first country to retain its title. German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saved Marta’s penalty shot, though the Brazilian won the Golden Shoe and Golden Ball awards.

Germany failed on home soil in the 2011 tournament, but investment, sponsorship, and widespread TV and other media coverage funded a well-attended event. Some 73,680 fans saw Germany beat Canada 2–1 in the Olympiastadion opener in Berlin, but the host team lost to Japan in a quarterfinal match. The Japanese stature and style prevailed in an absorbing final against the U.S. before an audience of 48,817 at Women’s World Cup Stadium in Frankfurt am Main. Japan finally won 3–1 on penalties after a 2–2 draw. Goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori was the Japanese hero in the shoot-out, but Abby Wambach’s last-minute header for the U.S. was voted the greatest goal in any Women’s World Cup. Sawa was awarded the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe.

World Cup Canada 2015.

Before a ball had been kicked in Canada for the 24 teams participating, there was a row over the use of artificial turf as opposed to grass, an unprecedented imposition for a world tournament. With the outspoken Wambach leading the plaintiffs, 84 players from 13 countries filed a lawsuit against the Canadian Soccer Association and FIFA, but the organizers refused to back down, and the protesters ultimately dropped the suit. Despite the ensuing controversy, the tournament was a success. Ticket sales reached 920,000 for six venues across Canada’s five time zones, and blanket TV coverage reached millions.

At the group stage only Côte d’Ivoire and Ecuador failed to obtain a point, while Brazil and Japan went undefeated. The surprise eliminations were Mexico and Spain. In the knockout round, casualties included Brazil, which was upset by Australia, and Norway, which fell to an improved England. The U.S. reached the semifinal by beating China with a headed goal by Carli Lloyd. Japan overcame the plucky Australians 1–0, and England defeated host Canada 2–1 in front of a record crowd for Canada, 54,027. Angerer, the German goalkeeper, saved the crucial penalty in the shoot-out against France. Each semifinal had two penalties. Three were dubious calls, but the outcomes were unaffected. Germany missed against the U.S., which benefited from an infringement fractionally outside the area, as did Japan similarly against England, which leveled after minimal contact and simulation (diving). The U.S. defeated Germany 2–0 in one semifinal, and Japan gained a narrow 2–1 victory over England in the other when an England player accidentally knocked a ball into her own goal. A clear-cut penalty shot by Fara Williams decided third place for England against Germany.

In the final the U.S. shed its defensive shell and reverted to two strikers against Japan, with Lloyd partnering Alex Morgan. A penetrating attack from the outset prevented the slick short-passing Japanese team from developing its rhythm. In three minutes a textbook low corner kick pulled away to the penalty-area edge was met with a perfectly timed run from Lloyd, who struck forcefully for the opening goal. Two minutes later, with the Japanese defense in a tangle, Lloyd was the first to react within six yards. In 14 minutes Lauren Holiday made it 3–0 with a volley inside the penalty area amid further Japanese hesitancy. Two minutes later the outcome was virtually decided in spectacular fashion. Completing her hat trick, Lloyd, just inside the opposition half, spotted Kaihori far from the goal and launched a high-trajectory attempt; Kaihori managed to get a hand on the ball only to divert it into the net off the upright. It was voted goal of the tournament. Japan’s Yuki Ogimi reduced the arrears with a fine shot in the 27th minute. In the 52nd minute Julie Johnston flicked a header into her own U.S. goal, but two minutes later Tobin Heath made it 5–2 for the U.S. The closing stages produced substitute cameo appearances from U.S. veterans Wambach (aged 35) and Christie Rampone, who at age 40 years 11 days was the oldest player in World Cup history.

World Cup records in 2015 were set by Japan’s Sawa, playing in her sixth finals, and Formiga of Brazil, at age 37 the oldest goal scorer. The latter’s countrywoman Marta scored a record 15th World Cup goal. Lloyd, with a hat trick in the final match and six goals overall, earned the Golden Ball and finished second behind Golden Shoe winner Celia Sasic of Germany. The Golden Glove went to American Hope Solo, with Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan designated the tournament’s best young player. France achieved the Fair Play distinction. Though official attendance figures were a Women’s World Cup record 1.35 million, double-headed group matches inflated the figure, because one ticket bought access to two games. Television audiences in the U.S. were more than double those of 2011.

Despite that success, there remains skepticism about women’s soccer. Although FIFA’s controversial president Sepp Blatter stated that “the future of football will be feminine,” he also has been denounced for his sexist comments. Supporters of the women’s game assert that it was disparaging to impose the use of synthetic surfaces, which can reach dangerously high surface temperatures, cause aggressive players to suffer turf burns, and make a ball bounce awkwardly. In addition, top professional women players still earn far less than their male counterparts. The U.S. women’s team received $2 million for winning—in addition to a New York City ticker-tape parade. Their bonus was a fraction, however, of the $8 million awarded to the U.S. men’s team, which lost its first knockout-stage game in the 2014 men’s World Cup tournament.